SPEAKERS CONTENTS INSERTS
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41–892 CC
1997
MARKUP OF H.R. 1432—AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT
MARKUP
BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON AFRICA
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED FIFTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
MAY 22, 1997
Printed for the use of the Committee on International Relations
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COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
BENJAMIN A. GILMAN, New York, Chairman
WILLIAM GOODLING, Pennsylvania
JAMES A. LEACH, Iowa
HENRY J. HYDE, Illinois
DOUG BEREUTER, Nebraska
CHRISTOPHER SMITH, New Jersey
DAN BURTON, Indiana
ELTON GALLEGLY, California
ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida
CASS BALLENGER, North Carolina
DANA ROHRABACHER, California
DONALD A. MANZULLO, Illinois
EDWARD R. ROYCE, California
PETER T. KING, New York
JAY KIM, California
STEVEN J. CHABOT, Ohio
MARSHALL ''MARK'' SANFORD, South Carolina
MATT SALMON, Arizona
AMO HOUGHTON, New York
TOM CAMPBELL, California
JON FOX, Pennsylvania
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JOHN McHUGH, New York
LINDSEY GRAHAM, South Carolina
ROY BLUNT, Missouri
JERRY MORAN, Kansas
KEVIN BRADY, Texas
LEE HAMILTON, Indiana
SAM GEJDENSON, Connecticut
TOM LANTOS, California
HOWARD BERMAN, California
GARY ACKERMAN, New York
ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American Samoa
MATTHEW G. MARTINEZ, California
DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey
ROBERT ANDREWS, New Jersey
ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey
SHERROD BROWN, Ohio
CYNTHIA A. McKINNEY, Georgia
ALCEE L. HASTINGS, Florida
PAT DANNER, Missouri
EARL HILLIARD, Alabama
WALTER CAPPS, California
BRAD SHERMAN, California
ROBERT WEXLER, Florida
STEVE ROTHMAN, New Jersey
BOB CLEMENT, Tennessee
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BILL LUTHER, Minnesota
JIM DAVIS, Florida
RICHARD J. GARON, Chief of Staff
MICHAEL H. VAN DUSEN, Democratic Chief of Staff
Subcommittee on Africa
EDWARD R. ROYCE, California, Chairman
AMO HOUGHTON, New York
STEVEN J. CHABOT, Ohio
MARSHALL ''MARK'' SANFORD, South Carolina
TOM CAMPBELL, California
JOHN M. McHUGH, New York
ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey
DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey
ALCEE L. HASTINGS, Florida
JIM DAVIS, Florida
TOM SHEEHY, STAFF DIRECTOR
GREG SIMPKINS, PROFESSIONAL STAFF MEMBER
JODI CHRISTIANSEN, DEMOCRATIC PROFESSIONAL STAFF MEMBER
SHANNON GAWRONSKI, STAFF ASSOCIATE
C O N T E N T S
APPENDIX
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Text of H.R. 1432
Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute offered by Representative Royce
H.R. 1432—AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT
THURSDAY, MAY 22, 1997
House of Representatives,
Subcommittee on Africa,
Committee on International Relations,
Washington, DC.
The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:40 a.m., in room 2200, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC, Hon. Edward R. Royce (chairman of the subcommittee), presiding.
Mr. ROYCE. This committee session to mark up H.R. 1432 is now convened.
This bill is a new departure. It emphasizes that trade is a good thing, and it has shaken some of the cobwebs out of the corners to see what has come to Africa policy. I commend the bill's authors. They have pressed hard to change the status quo, which is never easy. This is only a start though, and much more needs to be done to improve our Africa policy.
I will mention that I am proposing an amendment in the nature of a substitute. These changes are supported by the bill's two authors, Mr. Crane and Mr. McDermott.
Does the distinguished ranking Democrat member have any comments that he would wish to make at this time?
Mr. MENENDEZ. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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Mr. Chairman, if I may first introduce to the committee Jim Davis from Florida, who is the new member of the subcommittee and, of course, of the full committee replacing Dennis Kucinich. We welcome him, and we are sure he is going to be a valuable asset to our subcommittee.
I want to thank you for ensuring that the subcommittee had an opportunity to mark up this legislation. I think it is an important final leg of U.S. policy toward the continent. I continue to believe that our bilateral assistance is crucial, and that trade alone is not a substitute for aid, but trade and investment are equally crucial to the development and advancement of sub-Saharan Africa.
This legislation provides opportunity both for Africans as well as Americans. The bill is a comprehensive program. Not only will it facilitate trade and investment, I believe it is a landmark piece of legislation because it creates a new emphasis on the importance of Africa to America, and as a result, it will engage Americans and American businesses in Africa.
I want to mention, Mr. Chairman, that I intend to support the bill. I have some considerable concerns about the textile apparel provisions of the bill. For those of us, like myself, who represent textile interests and whose districts were impacted rather negatively by NAFTA, it is very difficult to lose enormous numbers of jobs in our communities.
However, notwithstanding that, I intend, because of the greater policy issues that are involved, to support the bill, a bill that begins a new era toward America's policy toward Africa, embraces its people, creates opportunity both here and abroad, and is an important landmark piece of legislation.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. ROYCE. Thank you, Mr. Menendez.
I would ask the vice chairman of the committee if he would have an opening statement?
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Mr. HOUGHTON. No. No.
Mr. ROYCE. Fine. In that case, the Chair lays the bill before the subcommittee. The clerk will report the title of the bill.
Ms. BLOOMER. H.R. 1432, to authorize a new trade and investment policy for sub-Saharan Africa.
Mr. ROYCE. Without objection, the first reading of the bill will be dispensed with.
The clerk will read the bill for amendment.
Ms. BLOOMER. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, this Act may be cited as the ''African Growth and Opportunity Act.''
Mr. ROYCE. The Chair offers an amendment in the nature of a substitute, and the clerk will report the amendment in the nature of a substitute.
Ms. BLOOMER. Strike all Africa enacting clause and insert in lieu thereof.
Mr. ROYCE. Thank you. Without objection, the amendment in the nature of a substitute is considered as having been read as being original text for the purpose of amendment and as being open to amendment at any point.
And now the Chair would like to recognize himself for the purpose of explaining the amendment.
This amendment brings a needed transparency to the process of deciding which countries will participate in the benefits of this bill. It also invites USIA in the process of promoting economic information in support of the objectives of the bill supported by Mr. Crane and by Mr. McDermott.
Are there any members wishing recognition at this time?
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Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. Chairman.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Campbell.
Mr. CAMPBELL. A question is all, and it bears on the fact that the Chairman graciously asked for suggestions. I tried to submit one or two at least off the top of my quick reading that we are not accepting amendments. At least since I did not hear from your office, I suspect it was not that there was a policy disagreement, but a lack of communication, my fault, which is a predicate for my asking.
I had two concerns and I wonder if they were addressed in your amendment in the nature of a substitute. The first was that we not too heavily rely upon the continued role of OPEC or EXIM. I know that is a different committee, but that at least to the extent that it is in our ability, we should not do anything to prejudice the question of their role one way or the other.
Mr. ROYCE. Correct, and we do not in this language. Indeed, this is not the jurisdiction as we have discussed in this subcommittee, and when in the full committee we will continue that debate. But in this language under our jurisdiction we do not.
Mr. CAMPBELL. That is a point that you and I happen to agree on.
And the other was a small point regarding the statement in the bill regarding market disruption, that I thought it might be needlessly explicit to say that there was no threat to us, and that we might just use the phrase ''limited,'' which is used to describe the threat to market disruption in section 8(a)(1). That amendment does not appear to be adopted. But if section 8 is relevant for an amendment, I will bring it up at that time.
Mr. ROYCE. Yes. It was deemed not to be germane——
Mr. CAMPBELL. Was that the reason?
Mr. ROYCE. Exactly, that was the difficulty with that suggested amendment.
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Mr. CAMPBELL. You mean our subcommittee does not have jurisdiction over it?
Mr. ROYCE. Correct.
Mr. CAMPBELL. I see. So it would be germane if I was on the Ways and Means Committee?
Mr. ROYCE. On the full committee.
Mr. CAMPBELL. Oh, on the full committee?
Mr. ROYCE. You will have that opportunity. It will be germane.
Mr. CAMPBELL. OK, great. Then I would just request, because I might forget it, if your good staff would remember to remind me about those two points. Thanks.
Mr. ROYCE. We will remember to do that, Mr. Campbell, and thank you very much.
If there are no further amendments.
Mr. MENENDEZ. I have one.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Menendez.
Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk and would ask that it be distributed and be heard on it.
Mr. ROYCE. The clerk will read the amendment.
The CLERK. Amendment offered by Mr. Menendez, after section 13——
Mr. MENENDEZ. Ask that the amendment be considered as read.
Mr. ROYCE. You are recognized for the purposes of presenting the amendment.
Mr. MENENDEZ. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Chairman, this amendment basically expresses the sense of the Congress that the Foreign Commercial Service should expand its presence in sub-Saharan Africa by increasing the number of posts and the number of personnel it allocates to that region, and it asks for a reporting from the Secretary of Commerce to the Congress on the feasibility of increasing the FCS presence in Africa 120 days after its passage.
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During the eighties, the Foreign Commercial Service's presence in Africa consisted of 14 professionals spread over eight countries. In 1997, that presence has been reduced to half, to seven, in just four countries. And although the Foreign Commercial Service officers in these countries have regional responsibilities, this kind of coverage is woefully inadequate to service the needs of U.S. companies attempting to do business in Africa.
We staff these commercial positions with State Department officers, but considering the nature of their overall responsibilities, it does not meet the needs of U.S. businesses. In some cases State Department officers simultaneously handle other portfolios, such as counsellor affairs, and on mandatory macroeconomic reporting tasks, so much that they cannot be of much use to individuals and firms here in the United States.
State Department officers cannot easily draw upon the export promotion resources of the Commerce Department which are allocated on a priority basis to the Foreign Commercial Service posts.
The provision is entirely consistent with the thrust of the Crane and McDermott bill, several provisions of which seek to expand the U.S. institutional capacity, to promote and respond to increased trade with African countries, and ask my colleagues on the committee to support the amendment.
Mr. ROYCE. Thank you, Mr. Menendez.
Are there any additional members seeking recognition on this amendment?
Mr. CHABOT. I do, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Chabot.
Mr. CHABOT. I just have some—if I could perhaps yield to my colleague, does he have any idea how this would be paid for? I mean, what kinds of costs are involved here, and how many personnel are you talking about and that sort of thing?
I would be happy to yield.
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Mr. MENENDEZ. We do not specifically say the number of posts. We say there should be an increase. We saw what existed at a time of less trade, of less institutional structure for us to pursue trade. So we ask for them to give us a reporting requirement as to what is their capacity to do so, and to some degree, I see it as a reallocation of existing Foreign Commercial Service officers with a greater emphasis on Africa.
Mr. CHABOT. I mean, my concern would be the cost and where do they come from and that sort of thing. I might be perhaps interested in hearing what the Chairman would have to say about this particular amendment.
Mr. ROYCE. Well, I would just respond that there are no dollar costs specifically designated in the bill. It's a sense of the Congress measure. And so I support the nature of the amendment.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman.
Mr. ROYCE. Yes, Mr. Payne.
Mr. PAYNE. Yes, I would like to add my support to the Menendez amendment. I think that in the State Department it is a moving target. You have a number of employees that have specific responsibilities at particular times, and at a time when there is less emphasis as it relates to a particular issue, for example, at one time we had members of the State Department, in which there was an emphasis on intelligence employees, military type and civilian personnel. With the lessening of that necessity, we have seen a shift to more commercial interests.
When you take a place like China, for example, there are many people shifting into the commercial aspects. So it makes a lot of sense. I think that the department has the ability to be flexible enough to change or modify their personnel to fit the needs of a changing community. And so I think, since there is not a specific number, I think it could certainly be managed by the department.
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Mr. ROYCE. Are there any additional members seeking recognition on the Menendez amendment?
If not, the Chair will put the question on the Menendez amendment. As many as are in favor of the amendment, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
Mr. ROYCE. As many are as opposed to the amendment, say no.
[Chorus of nays.]
Mr. ROYCE. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it and the amendment is agreed to.
Are there any further amendments at this time before we proceed to vote on the——
Mr. PAYNE. I have an amendment at the desk.
Mr. ROYCE. The clerk will read the amendment.
Ms. BLOOMER. Amendment H.R. 1432 offered by Mr. Payne, ''Page 6, insert the following: Whether or not such country engages in activities that undermine U.S. national security or foreign policy interests.''
Mr. PAYNE. It is a very simple amendment. We are asking that a country that falls under the jurisdiction of the trade bill, we say that whether or not a country engages in activities that undermine the U.S. national security and foreign policy interests should not be included.
In other words, we are saying that for the countries that have positive programs and are in line with our foreign policy needs—that this is applicable. Very simple.
Mr. ROYCE. I would have one observation, and maybe we could hear from the administration on this. But, African nations that pose such national security or foreign policy threats to the United States would not pass muster on the other criteria already expressed would be my observation.
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A terrorist nation would not observe the rules of law. It would not observe the growth of the private sector. It would not respect property right. But more importantly, there are other provisions in the law that already provide our government the authority in this proposal. For example, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act authorizes the President to impose restrictions on economic relations with any nation if the President declares a threat to national security or foreign policy or our country's economy.
And so if I could just make those points. I do not know if any of the other members of this committee would like to comment on that.
Mr. Menendez.
Mr. MENENDEZ. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I want to support Mr. Payne's amendment. I appreciate the Chair's comments and agree with them to some respect, but if you look at Mr. Payne's amendment, it talks about not only the national security of the United States, but it talks about engaging in activities that undermine the foreign policy interest of the United States. And the national security provisions clearly are a statement that we can all clearly define. The foreign policy interests are more varied, I would suggest.
And, I think what he does by doing this is make a very clear comment that the United States wants to trade with the continent, but will look in its consideration of those countries that engage in activities that undermine the foreign policy interest as well as the national security of the United States. And, I think it is one more of a series of considerations which does not impede us to pursue, but it enhances what it is that we try to do, and I support Mr. Payne's amendment.
Mr. ROYCE. Any other members of the committee?
Mr. Campbell.
Mr. CAMPBELL. I would like to ask of my colleague and good friend from New Jersey, Mr. Payne, do you have an example that might help me understand where we would be recommending that the President consider for favorable treatment, under the provisions of this bill, because of the criteria already in the bill, but then would hold back because of national security?
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Again, I yield to my friend from New Jersey.
Mr. PAYNE. Well, it goes under the continuing compliance. I could give you an example of Sudan. Last year we were allowing a CAL-TEC, or a California firm to bid on a pipeline in the Sudan. They lost the bid, but there was a relaxing of sanctions in the Sudan to allow an American company to violate our law.
And so this would have more clarification of forbidding any country and excluding them totally from participation in this bill.
Mr. CAMPBELL. OK, thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. ROYCE. Do any other members wish to be recognized on this amendment?
Do I hear a motion on the amendment? We have an amendment before the committee.
Mr. MENENDEZ. I move adoption of the amendment.
Mr. ROYCE. The clerk will read the roll.
Ms. BLOOMER. Roll call.
Mr. ROYCE. Or all in favor, signify by saying aye.
{Chorus of ayes.]
Mr. ROYCE. All opposed?
[Chorus of nays.]
Mr. ROYCE. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it. The amendment is adopted.
If there are no further amendments the Chair——
Mr. CAMPBELL. I have an amendment, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. ROYCE. You have an amendment before the committee.
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Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to explain my amendment before it has been duplicated. It is presently in the process of being duplicated. If I might have unanimous consent to commence explanation.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Colleagues, we still say Zaire, and we ought to refer to the Democratic Republic of Congo. I believe that is the policy of the State Department. If I am using the wrong phrase, I ask the Chairman to yield time and we will talk to a representative. But my amendment strikes ''Zaire, and the Republic of Zaire,'' and inserts ''Democratic Republic of Congo.''
Mr. ROYCE. We have an amendment before the committee, and I believe we will have a copy of that amendment for members.
Mr. CAMPBELL. And pending that, perhaps I could ask for a motion to strike that last word or something.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Campbell.
Mr. CAMPBELL. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
While the amendment is pending, I just wish to draw my colleagues' attention to the fact that I am also preparing a letter which I will try to get all members on the Africa Subcommittee to sign. Congressman Payne and I have great hopes of visiting the new country in the near future, next week, and the letter that I am going to be presenting will represent our good wishes, expression and hopes for an improvement in that country's situation, and also draw attention to the fact that the members of our subcommittee at least will be watching with a desire to assist, to be of help, and also watching particularly the refugee return—in the jungle bordering Rwanda, there are still a large number of refugees; we wish to be of help in the progress that will follow in the Democratic Republic of Congo and one of our criteria would be how they treat these refugees.
I yield to my colleague from New Jersey if he wishes to comment.
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Mr. PAYNE. Thank you, Mr. Campbell.
I would certainly strongly support the amendment, as has been indicated. We had an opportunity to meet with Mr. Kabila about 4 months ago. I think that there is also a lot of attention that is now being brought to bear where there is sort of a very strict litmus test that is going on.
I was reading The Post today where it said he was supposed to announce a new government yesterday, and he did not do it. Therefore, things are falling apart, you know.
You had 32 years of corrupt regime and all of a sudden it seems like something that happened in 32 years in the past has been forgotten, and all of a sudden we have this standard, you know, Mother Theresa wasn't running Zaire. I think what we have to do is give the new government an opportunity to move forward. And I think that if we can encourage the new government rather than to have very strict guidelines to allow this emerging, hopefully democracy, to have an opportunity to move forward, I think it would be more helpful than to be critical of an announcement. I thought it was in bad judgment to say, ''I will have a government in 2 days'' in the first place. Maybe that was the goal, and it was not achieved. But I think that we should give as much support as we can.
I also hope that the new government will truly move forward for democratic reforms; that in a reasonable period of time that there can be elections. I think that you have to probably do a census first to find out how many people really live there before you can run elections. I believe that in my evaluation of civil strife, civil war, I have never seen anywhere a country as large as Zaire, the Congo, to have so few casualties in a civil war.
I mean, in the civil war in the United States we lost as many men in one week of battle as has been lost in the 8 months in Zaire. I think that we hopefully will encourage leadership to do the right thing. We are expecting that democracy will return to the Republic of Congo.
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As a matter of fact, Rand McNally, the map makers, have stopped their press yesterday because they are putting in the Republic of Congo. So if we accept it or not, any new map will have that on it. So I support Mr. Campbell, and hopefully next week we will have an opportunity to talk to the Kabila Government and hopefully it can move in the right direction.
Mr. ROYCE. Thank you, Mr. Payne.
The amendment is to strike ''The Republic of Zaire'' wherever these words appear in the bill, and insert instead ''The Democratic Republic of Congo.'' I am going to ask assistant to Secretary Moose, Jeannine Mann, if she would comment at this time.
Ms. MANN. We have no objection to that change in the bill.
Mr. ROYCE. Thank you. We have an amendment, the Campbell amendment, before the committee.
Is there any additional comments from members seeking recognition?
If not, the Chair will put the question on the Campbell amendment.
As many as are in favor of the amendment, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
Mr. ROYCE. As many as are opposed to the amendment, say no.
[No response.]
Mr. ROYCE. The ayes have it.
Mr. Sanford. Mr. Chairman.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Sanford.
Mr. SANFORD. I had a question on section 10 on item (b) of section 10 on debt reduction.
Mr. ROYCE. Yes.
Mr. SANFORD. I realize it is the sense of Congress, but I was concerned about the language. It says that ''Sub-Saharan Africa is heavily indebted and pursuing bold growth-oriented policies,'' and that we would, in essence, encourage and promote growth.
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I did not know what ''bold'' meant, and whether we needed a little tightening of the language.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Sanford, this subcommittee does not have jurisdiction on section 10. The Banking Committee or Ways and Means will have jurisdiction on that. But inasmuch as we do not, we do not have the ability to amend that section.
Mr. SANFORD. So it will be addressed where?
Mr. ROYCE. The Banking Committee and Ways and Means.
Mr. SANFORD. Thank you.
Mr. ROYCE. Thank you, Mr. Sanford.
If there are no further amendments the Chair will put the question on the amendment in the nature of a substitute as amended.
As many as are in favor of the amendment in the nature of the substitute, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
Mr. ROYCE. As many as are opposed, say no.
[No response.]
Mr. ROYCE. It is the opinion of the Chair that the ayes have it. The ayes have it, and the amendment is agreed to.
Are there any further amendments? Mr. Campbell.
Mr. CAMPBELL. I have a motion to strike the last word. I apologize. If the bill is not yet done, I will postpone. I had a request for the good of the earlier information.
Mr. ROYCE. I would now like to recognize Mr. Houghton to offer a motion.
Mr. HOUGHTON. Mr. Chairman, I move that the subcommittee report, the bill H.R. 1432 to the full committee with an amendment in the nature of a substitute as amended, with a recommendation that the committee act favorably therein.
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Mr. ROYCE. The question is on the motion from the gentleman from New York.
As many as are in favor of the motion, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
Mr. ROYCE. As many as are opposed, say no.
[No response.]
Mr. ROYCE. In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it. The ayes do have it and the motion is agreed to.
Without objection, the staff director may make grammatical, technical and confirming amendments to the bill prior to its transmittal to the full committee.
I will now recognize Mr. Campbell.
Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. Chairman, thank you.
Simply request that before all our members disperse, I have the draft letter, and I would appreciate as many as who can sign it to do so before they leave, and I have it right here, if you don't mind. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
And I believe the Chair's staff has reviewed it.
Mr. ROYCE. Yes, and I will be shortly conferring with you, Mr. Campbell, on the letter.
Mr. CAMPBELL. Thank you.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Menendez.
Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Chairman, very briefly, I want to thank you in the nature of how we proceeded with this process. Bipartisanism can work. Today is another example of it. And I also want to thank the staff of the committee who have worked together very propitiously to bring us a bill that we can all be supportive of today.
Mr. ROYCE. Thank you, Mr. Menendez.
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Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Payne.
Mr. PAYNE. Just another little comment too. I would like to congratulate you and the ranking member, you know, I will go one step further, both of you, for the spirit that you bring this work. And I would just like to really thank the committee in general. I have been on this committee ever since I came to Congress, almost a decade, it seems like 100 years, but only 9, and there has never been during the time that I have been a member of the Africa Subcommittee as much participation, interest, in particular on the other side of the aisle.
I think that you are very fortunate to have probably the best of your crop in Congress.
[Laughter.]
Mr. PAYNE. You know, it is draught in years, but you know I——
[Laughter.]
Mr. ROYCE. As limited as that draught might be, you know.
[Laughter.]
Mr. PAYNE. I really commended the committee for its interests, the manner in which—there are certainly some very quick learners, that is for sure.
And I just would like to say, having been involved in the continent for 3 or 4 decades, many times we take former cold war era perspectives and we translate that into today. Just very quickly, in the old days, you know, NATO powers were the colonial powers, and the United States strongly supported NATO, and so therefore indirectly U.S. weapons were used by NATO countries. The NATO language restricted U.S. weapons from being used against freedom fighters, although indeed they were. We had pictures of Angola in the sixties of U.S. M–1s, and I know we all did the M–1 thing, that were captured in Angola. So the law was broken and we looked the other way.
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Many people, the Mandelas, the Umbekes, the Sam Nujomas, (President of Namibia), and the Mr. Kabilas as well as many others, have received support from wherever they could get it. It certainly was not coming from colonial powers, and it was not coming from the United States and NATO support, and therefore, you know, this whole new thing of the friend of my friend or the enemy of my enemy, the Persian Gulf rhetoric.
So I would just ask as we move forward and as we learn more about the continent that people not prejudge themselves by virtue of the fact that many of the African leaders who are now in prominence were supported by the Eastern Bloc countries. That was the only help they got and they took it wherever they could receive it.
And as we have seen in South Africa, there has been a transition to democracy, and market economy, et cetera, although there was fear that ANC was Communist-dominated.
So I think that as we move into the new millennium that we should try to check the cobwebs of the old cold war, and allow new emerging leaders on the continent to be measured today by today's standards and look forward to the future.
Thank you.
Mr. ROYCE. Thank you, Mr. Payne.
I think this will help achieve that objective. I thank the members of the committee and the committee now stands adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 10:59 a.m. the subcommittee was adjourned.]